Govt Sets Up Barricade to Block Rally From Entering South Waziristan

The first day of the Pakistani Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) protest march against US drone strikes has come to an end in Dera Ismail Khan, a key city on the road to the tribal area. They plan to leave for South Waziristan Agency in the morning.

At least that’s the plan, but Pakistan’s government and the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as well as US diplomats seem to be united against seeing the rally happen, and with the government closing the only road into the agency, what will happen is very much in doubt.

The TTP have warned PTI leader Imran Khan against continuing the march, accusing him of trying to use the issue of drone strikes for political gain and insisting that they consider him a “secular personality.”

Pakistan’s government is predicting TTP attacks, even though the TTP doesn’t seem to be threatening anything specific, and the US has continued to caution the Americans involved in the rally not to participate, insisting they have “credible” intelligence that the march will be attacked.

Khan, who is at the head of the rally, has condemned the government for trying to stop the march, and insists that they will continue on to South Waziristan regardless of any threats put in their way.

I pray Imran Khan will continue and will gain support across Pakistan…This illegal actions by US/Zionist warcriminals must be fully exposed and occupaiers "kicked out" from ME and central Asia forever. People shoud unite just like people in Iran – the rich land in this part of the world togheter with investments from China could start New Era of prosperity and peace…But first, US and Israels aggression has to be stoped! Imran Khan, go for it!!, next Head of state people in Pakistan need…. peter czech

If there is an attack on this anti-drone peace march, it will most likely be a false-flag operation by the Pak gov or U.S. to put the blame on the Taliban.

As the Taliban would gain nothing from attacking this rally, it would be an extremely foolish move that would seriously damage their image and goals.

Why would the Taliban attack this rally? It consists of their countrymen who are against the drone strikes and against the U.S./Pak alliance, things the Taliban themselves are against. It would make no sense, and the Taliban know this.

And as for their opinion of Imran Khan, it doesn't warrant his assassination. For years Imran Khan has been publicly campaigning to places in Pakistan where other politician don't even dare think about. Imran Khan does rallies out in the open, without bulletproof vests or bulletproof glass to hide behind. If the Taliban wanted Imran Khan dead, they would have done so years ago as they had plenty of easy chances to get him.